Barrera was sharp as well, and he kept his feet in this entertaining rematch – but Pacquiao kept his supremacy.

Pacquiao beat Barrera for the second time Saturday night, winning a unanimous decision nearly four years after the Philippines’ favorite son became a boxing superstar with a dominant upset victory over Barrera.

Pacquiao’s trainers and fans worried about the distractions of Manny’s many interests outside boxing in the weeks leading up to the fight. Pacquiao’s dalliances with movies, music and politics didn’t matter, because the sport’s most inspired brawler was his usual ruthless self in dispatching yet another great Mexican champion in a 130-pound bout at Mandalay Bay.

“It was a good fight, and it was different from the first fight,” Pacquiao said. “He’s a good, smart boxer. I’m satisfied with the result. I knew he would have to box me this time around.”

Not even an illegal 11th-round blow by Barrera could stop the lightning-quick Pacquiao (45-3-2, 34 KOs), who earned his sixth straight victory. Barrera (63-6) lost a point for a head shot that discombobulated Pacquiao after the referee moved in to separate them in the 11th, but Pacquiao recovered in time to reach the final bell.

Though Barrera again said he’ll retire after consecutive losses this year, the result was a moral victory that could be heard in the voices of the Mexican fans who stood and cheered the 33-year-old as he left the ring.

“I definitely lost my head in some of those rounds,” Barrera said. “I got too caught up in the action. I probably shouldn’t have stayed in those exchanges as long as I did. We boxed well. I feel like I dominated the fight with my left hand.”

Pacquiao was responsible for the only TKO loss of the Mexican champion’s career in their first meeting in late 2003, but Barrera refused to go down this time against one of the sport’s knockout artists.

“I was sad because I lost the fight, but he never really hurt me,” Barrera said. “I didn’t even think he landed that many punches.”

Both fighters raised their arms in celebration at the end, but Barrera’s excitement seemed artificial. Judge Tom Schreck scored it 115-112 for Pacquiao, while Jerry Roth and Glenn Trowbridge both favored Pacquiao 118-109. The Associated Press also gave it to Pacquiao, 116-111.

Pacquiao predictably dominated the punch stats, landing 256 punches to Barrera’s 120. Pacquiao also had more than twice as many power shots, hitting on 54 percent.

“I was surprised (Barrera) lasted the way he did,” said Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer. “He has a lot of heart and guts. He fought a great fight.”

In another major bout …

Samuel Peter survived three early knockdowns to pull away from Jameel McCline and keep the WBC heavyweight championship at Madison Square Garden. Peter, nicknamed the “Nigerian Nightmare,” was living through his own bad dream in the second and third rounds. But he held on, then dominated the latter rounds for a unanimous decision that was heartily booed by the crowd. McCline, embroiled in controversy as a reported target in a steroids investigation, seemed to be one solid punch away from the championship in the third round. He decked Peter twice, but couldn’t finish him and didn’t have much left the rest of the way. Peter (29-1) was handed the belt by the WBC after champion Oleg Maskaev dropped out because of a back injury. Peter said he would show he was deserving of the title in the ring, and after the first three rounds the 27-year-old did just that. McCline, who was supposed to fight on the undercard before being moved up to the big bout, dropped to 38-8-3.